Page 34 of Frog

“And your profession is that of a ranch hand? Is that correct?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“What did you do before that?”

“Rodeo. I was a bull rider.”

“Which accounts for the injuries.”

How did she know I’d been injured? “Ma’am?”

“Cyrus told us earlier that you had been hurt not too long ago, but he didn’t say how. Bull riding must be very dangerous.”

I shrugged.

“You don’t think so?”

“It’s takes a toll, but so does workin’ a ranch or bein’ out on the road.”

“And you’ve been on the road a long time, haven’t you?”

“Yes, ma’am, I have.”

Her lips were pressed together tight as she stood up. “Okay. I’m going to bed.”

I didn’t expect her to walk around the coffee table, bend down, put a hand on my cheek, and kiss me on the other. She bolted from the room right after that.

“Me too,” Rachel echoed her mother-in-law, darting over to me, leaning over to kiss my forehead before she too nearly ran from the room.

Fuck.

“Good night, everyone.” Mr. Benning smiled, and then he too walked by me, patted my shoulder, squeezed it, and followed after his wife up to bed.

I couldn’t stifle my groan.

“What?” Cy asked me

“They all think I’m some sad sack now. For Pete’s sake Cy, why’d you have to go and tell ’em that I’m a damn orphan and get all maudlin on me?”

“I—”

Carolyn caught her breath and then leaned over and hugged me tight.

“Oh for crissakes.” I groaned louder the second time, and Cy chuckled softly.

After a minute, I ordered Carolyn to get the hell off me, and I went to take a shower. Cy and I had a small room at the end of the hall on the second floor, and we had to share a bathroom with others. When I was on my way back to our room, sleep shorts hanging off my hips, hair sticking straight up, too hot to put on my T-shirt yet, I heard someone call me. Turning, I found Ross.

I tipped my head and squinted, sizing him up. Usually, I didn’t make snap judgments about people. I took my time deciding if I liked them or not. But Ross was different. I hated him. And I wasn’t stupid; I knew why. He easily deserved the man I was crazy about, and I did not, plus he looked like a damn fashion model. He and Cy fit. Me and Cy were a train wreck that continually happened.

“You heard me and Brett talking earlier, didn’t you?”

I nodded.

He took a breath. “I’m sorry. That was rude. I mean, I won’t lie and say that when you’re gone that I’m not going to ask him out, but for now…. I’m leaving in the morning. I can’t compete with the whole orphaned cowboy bullshit.”

I moved to walk around him.

“It’s crap, though.”